Erin and Dylan’s Portland, Maine City Hall elopement was the perfect blend of sweet and simple! Their small wedding allowed them to have a day of celebration without the pressure that sometimes comes with a bigger wedding. Their intimate day allowed space for many moments of connection with each other and their people. Interested in planning your own city hall elopement? Read on for inspo!

Getting Ready in Downtown Portland

Erin and Dylan’s timeline allowed for a relaxed morning, granting them plenty of time to soak in the day with their loved ones. They were able to get ready in a space they felt comfortable, while also being conveniently close to city hall. As a photographer, I'm all about keeping things simple and comfortable!

Portland City Hall Ceremony

The couple had an intimate wedding ceremony in the State of Maine Room at Portland City Hall. Floral arrangements from Harmon’s Floral Company in their wedding colors added a personal touch to the space. Walking down the aisle in front of their guests didn’t feel natural to Erin and Dylan, so they opted to start the ceremony already standing in front of everyone. A city hall officiant performed the short and sweet ceremony which we followed with family photos. One of my favorite things about small celebrations is that we can get photos with you and each of your guests, whether they’re posed or candid.

Some of my Favorite Highlights:

  • I’m a SUCKER for flower crowns; Erin’s crown (made by Harmon's Floral Company) gave ethereal fairy vibes I was obsessed with. 
  • We had a surprise visit from a kid that Erin used to babysit. He was so excited to see her all dressed up!! His joyful energy was infectious.
  • The couple's customized wedding shoes were a perfect way to elevate the look of their comfortable sneakers. They were able to navigate the cobblestones downtown with ease in these practical and unique shoes.

Downtown Portland Reception

Erin and Dylan had a heartfelt celebration at David’s Restaurant with their elopement guests. Toasts and laughs were shared over delicious food. A few months later, they had a bigger cocktail party with family from farther away in the Portland Old Port at Boone’s Fish and Oyster House. This is a great way to keep your wedding small and intimate, while still getting to include more people in this big life milestone.

Downtown Portland is the perfect mix of classy and casual for an unforgettable elopement day. With so many options for places to eat and activities to incorporate, there are endless possibilities to make your wedding unique.

The vendors that made this day possible:

Photographer: me! (Sunset Ridge Photography)

Ceremony Venue: Portland City Hall

Wedding Day Reception Venue: David's Restaurant

Wedding Celebration Venue: Boone's Fish House and Oyster Room

Florals: Harmon's Floral Company

Hair and Makeup: Slate Studio

Dress: Andrea's Bridal

Maine micro-wedding photographer

Meet your Portland photographer!

Hi, I'm Marena and I adore creating meaningful connections with people. With a focus on documentary photography, I strive to highlight connection in my work. I'm always looking to capture the small glances, a brush of hands, and the little moments that paint the big picture.


During your wedding day, you can expect me to be hyping you up, capturing natural, intimate moments, and most importantly, making sure you feel comfortable!